Skid for transporting sheet material

ABSTRACT

A reusable shipping skid for transporting arcuate shaped loads. The skid has a unitized construction including a plurality of parallel runners interconnected at their opposite ends by a pair of cross members which are removably and adjustably positionable on the runners to accommodate loads of different length. An upstanding support having an arcuate plate is removably mounted at the center of the runners for supporting the curved underside of the load. The skid is adapted for movement through muddy or sandy terrain at a job site and can be easily disassembled for compact return shipment.

United States Patent [191 Mesenbring Dec. 9, 1975 SKID FOR TRANSPORTING SHEET MATERIAL [76] Inventor: Miles l-l. Mesenbring, RR. 2,

Bourbonnais, 111. 60914 [22] Filed: Jan. 13, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 540,573

[52] US. Cl 280/12 R; 280/19; 280/24; 206/448; 206/386; 214/105 R [51] Int. Cl. B62B 15/00 [58] Field of Search 280/12 R, 19 X, 24, 12 M; 211/41, 50; 214/105 R X; 206/448 X, 449,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 696,991 4/1902 Meyers 280/12 R 948,043 2/1910 Ellis 214/105 R 2,570,757 10/1951 Bowman 2l4/10.5 R 2,743,010 4/1956 Koester 206/386 DePew 214/105 R Ammling 280/24 Primary ExaminerR0bert R. Song Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT A reusable shipping skid for transporting arcuate shaped loads. The skid has a unitized construction including a plurality of parallel runners interconnected at their opposite ends by a pair of cross members which are removably and adjustably positionable on the runners to accommodate loads of different length. An upstanding support having an arcuate plate is removably mounted at the center of the runners for supporting the curved underside of the load. The skid is adapted for movement through muddy or sandy terrain at a job site and can be easily disassembled for compact return shipment.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U..S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,924,871

US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,924,871 7 '1 ZMJI' II I m "M SKID FOR TRANSPORTING SHEET MATERIAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to skids upon which freight is mounted for transport, and more particularly, to skids for transporting large arcuate shaped loads.

The shipping of large curved or arcuate shaped sheet material heretofore has presented frequent problems. For example, large storage silos for farms are shipped to the job site in a disassembled condition. The'side panels of the silo, which comprise large curved sheets having a radius of curvature equal to that of the silo to be constructed, are stacked upon each other for ship ping. While such a curved stack of panels presents inherent difficulties in handling and packing, the silo walls also are glass plated so as to require even greater care to prevent their damage. It is customary practice to wrap and tie together such a stack of curved panels and then mount and secure the stack onto a wooden skid for shipment.

Such wooden skids usually comprise a relatively flat base with a center portion that tends to shore up the curved central area of the stack. Since the radius of curvature of the panels varies for different diameters of silo, such wooden skids are specially constructed for each size of silo that is to be transported. Moreover, due to the curved nature of the stack, it is difficult to securely support the stack on the skid and it often experiences shifting during transport. Such wooden skids also are easily damaged during transport.

After the loaded skid has been delivered to the job site, in order to move it to the assembly location, a chain commonly is positioned around or fastened to the skid and it is pulled by a powered vehicle. If the terrain at the job site is sandy, muddy, or otherwise adverse, the sand or mud will build up within the crossboards of the skid to greatly impede its movement. In such case, the chain often will pull completely through the wooden skid, destroying the skid and rendering immobile the stack of curvedsheets, with considerable delay and inconvenience resulting to the contractor. A similar result can occur if some time has elapsed since the stack was delivered and it has frozen to the ground at the job site. Due to the fact that the wooden skids invariably are damaged during their shipment or movement at the job site, and because of their relatively bulky construction, it heretofore has not been feasible to return the skids to the manufacturer for reuse.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved skid adaptedto support curved sheet material for reliable and safe transport and to facilitate its movement at the construction site. i

Another object is to provide a skid of the above kind which can be readily moved at the construction site regardless of adverse terrain.

A further object is to provide a transport skid as characterized above which is adapted to permit safe movement of the load even after the skid has become rigidly frozen to the ground at a job site.

Still another-object is to provide a skid of the foregoing type which is readily adjustable to support sheets of different sizes and curvatures. V l 7 Yet another object is to provide a skid of the above type which has a more durable construction and which may be indefinitely reused. A related object is to provide such a skid that has a unitized construction so that even if the skid is partiallydarnaged itmay be quickly repaired without complete replacement of the skid.

Another object is to provide such a skid which can be efficiently and economically manufactured and can be easily and quickly disassembled for compact return shipment to the manufacturer for reuse.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a skid embodying the present invention having a stack of curved panels mounted thereon, as well as additional shipping cartons;

' FIG. 2 is a perspective of the skid shown in FIG. 1 with the load removed; and

FIGS. 3-5 are enlarged fragmentary sections taken in the planes of lines 3 3, 44, and 55, respectively, in FIG. 1.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a preferred embodiment thereof has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention isgto cover all modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring .now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown an illustrative skid 10 embodying the present invention supporting a stack 1 1 of substantially identical curved panels 12, such as side panels used in the construction of relatively large cylindrical farm silos. The panels 12, which customarily are glass coated metal sheets, have straight parallel ends 12a, 12b that are positioned vertically when the panels are assembled to define a cylindrical configuration. The radius of curvature of the panels 12 corresponds to the size of the cylindrical structure that is to be constructed. The stack 11 is wrapped with a suitable cover paper, bound together by transverse bands 14, and mounted face down on the skid 10 with the straight ends 12a, 12b at the forward and rear ends of the skid, respectively, so that the central bowed portion thereof is at a higher elevation. In the illustrated embodiment, additional components of .the silo, such as sections of the roof, are packed in cartons l5 and loaded on top of the curved stack 11.

In accordance with the present invention, the skid has a unitized construction that may be quickly assembled for reliable and safe mounting and transport of the curved panels. To this end, the skid 10 comprises a plurality of substantially similar runners 20 that are interconnected at opposite ends by a pair of adjustable end cross members 21, and an upstanding arcuate support 22 is removably mounted at the center of the runners 20. The runners 20 each comprise a flat wooden rail 24 formed with tapered opposite ends 25 and a metal channel 26 with upturned legs secured to the upper side of the rail 24. The channels 26 preferably are removably secured to its respective rail 24, such as by bolts 28. The bottom side of the wooden rails 24 in the present instance'are countersunk to receive the heads of the securing bolts 28 below the outer surface of the rail.

For positively and adjustably connecting the end members 21 to the runners 20, a plate 30 formed with an elongated open ended slot 31 is secured at the opposite ends of each channel 26. The end members 21 each have depending lugs 32 that are adapted to be positioned and held within the slot 31 of a respective one of the runner plates 30. The slots 31 of each plate 30 preferably terminate in an outwardly flared fashion to define camming surfaces 34 which guide the lugs 32 into the slot.

The end members 21 each comprise an elongated angle member 35 which when in mounted position on the runners 20 has an upstanding substantially vertical flange 35a and a bottom flange 35b disposed at an angle to the horizontal. In order to support the bottom flange 35b at such angle, a plurality of L-shaped angles 36 are mounted on the underside of each angle member 35. The L-shaped angles 36 each have a horizontal leg secured to the apex of the angle member 35 and a vertical leg secured to the underside of an outer portion of the inclined flange 35b. The securing lugs 32 each are mounted in depending fashion from the horizontal leg of the L-shaped angle 36. The lugs 32 in this case are bolts secured to the angle 36 by a nut 38 with a sleeve 39 and washer 40 interposed between the angle leg and the head of the bolt 32. When the end member 21 is positioned on the runners 20, the sleeve 39 of lug 32 is directed into the runner slot 31 and the washer 40 retains the end member against vertical displacement.

It will be seen that the end members 21 may be adjustably positioned within the runner slots 31 for the particular size of curved panel that is to be mounted on the skid. For example, in the manufacture of such cylindrical silos it is common practice to use common sized blank panels for the side walls of silos of different diameters, with panels merely being bent to the appropriate radius of curvature. Thus, a stack of curved panels for a foot diameter silo would extend a shorter length on the skid than a stack of panels for a 25 foot diameter silo due to the greater curvature of the former. By merely adjusting the end members within the runner slots on the appropriate position, the skid 10 can be adapted to support thecurved side panels for the various silo diameters. When the end members are properly located, the inclined leg 35b of the angle member 35 will support an end of the curved stack 11 of panels, while the vertical flange 35a tends to protect the end of the stack from damage in the event the skid is accidentally bumped during handling. To further protect the stack and to positively retain it from lateral side movement, the opposite ends of each end member 21 also have a vertical plate 41.

In carrying out the invention, the center support 22 includes an arcuate member 42 that is adapted to conform to and support the central underside of the curved stack 11. The arcuate member 42 preferably is a sheet having sufficient strength and rigidity to provide support for a relatively large central area of the stack, but also is flexible enough to substantially conform to the curvature of the stack 11. Mounted on the underside of the arcuate member 42 are sleeves 44 that are removably positionable on to respective posts 45 welded in upstanding relation to the center of the outer runner channels 26. To permit vertical adjustment of the arcuate member 42 for the curvature of the particular stack that is to be mounted on the skid, the sleeves 44 may be formed with a plurality of vertically spaced apertures 48, any one of which may be aligned with suitable apertures in the posts 45. Retaining pins 50 are provided for securing the support at a selected position on the post.

In addition to supporting the curved stack 11, the cartons 15 may also be mounted on the skid. Such cartons, which generally include more bulky, lightweight items, in this case are merely positioned upon the top of the curved stack. To retain these cartons, the end members 21 each have channels 55 secured to the vertical flange 35a thereof for removably supporting extension rods 56 in a vertical fashion. The channels 55 preferably are located on the end member 21 such that when the end member is in mounted position on the runners 20 the channels 55 are positioned only partly over the runner plate 30. Each extension rod 56 may thereby be positioned through its channel 55, with a portion of its end supported on the adjacent plate 30. Since the channel 55 is not directly over the plate 30, a portion of the end of the extension rod 56 will extend over the end of the plate to facilitate removal of the rod, such as by hammering the lower end thereof.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that by appropriately positioning of the end members 21 in the runner slots 31 and adjusting the height of the center arcuate support 22 the skid is readily adaptable for supporting loads of different lengths and curvatures. When the curved stack 11 is mounted on the skid it has been found that the weight of the stack upon the skid tends to bind the adjustable end members 21 to the runners 20 in a relatively secure fashion so as to eliminate the need for auxiliary fasteners. Instead, by simply tying the stack 11 onto the skid by means of bands 58 that extend longitudinally about the stack and the end members 21, a rigid and stable shipping load results. The additional cartons 15 similarly are tied to the skid by longitudinal bands 59.

In use, the skid of the present invention has been found to have many advantages over the prior art wooden shipping skids. Because the load is supported solely by the longitudinal runners 20, it may be pulled through even muddy or sandy terrain with relative ease. For this purpose a hitch 60 is provided at the forward end of the center runner. Even in the event that the skid becomes frozen to the ground after setting for some time before use, the channels 26 of the runners may be disconnected from the bottom wooden rails 24 by removal of the bolts 28 to permit movement of the skid on the channels 26. Because the runners support the end members and load above the ground, the skid may also be moved by a fork lift, with the fork being positionable under the skid from the front or rear end thereof.

Furthermore, by reason of the substantially all metal construction of the skid, it is seldom damaged during transport. Even if one of the components of the skid does become damaged, because of the unitized construction of the skid, it is a simple matter to replace the damaged element. The unitized construction further enables the skid to be quickly disassembled for compact return shipment. It is apparent, therefore that such skid lends itself to economical manufacture and use and may be reused indefinitely.

I claim as my invention:

1. A skid for supporting an arcuate shaped load for transport comprising a plurality of longitudinal runners, means at opposite ends of said runners for releasably connecting said runners together in spaced parallel relation, means associated with each of said connecting means for engaging an end of a load supported on said skid, and an arcuate shaped support removably mounted at the center of said runners for supporting a curved underside of said load.

2. The skid of claim 1 in which said connecting means releasably engages an upper side of said runners so that said skid is supported solely by said runners for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of said runners.

3. The skid of claim 2 in which said runners each comprise a bottom wooden rail and an upper metal channel removably secured to said rail.

4. The skid of claim 1 in which said connecting means and said means for engaging each end of said load is a unitary member that is adjustably positionable longitudinally along said runners for accommodating loads of different length.

5. The skid of claim 4 in which each of said connecting means includes an elongated angle member having one flange inclined to the horizontal for supporting an end of said load and a second vertically disposed flange for protecting the end of said load.

6. The skid of claim 5 in which a vertical plate is mounted at opposite ends of each of said angle members for retaining a load mounted on said skid against lateral sliding movement.

7. The skid of claim 5 in which said angle member has a support angle secured to the underside of said inclined flange, said support angle having a horizontal leg, a lug mounted in depending fashion from said horizontal leg, a plate fixed to the upper side of said runner channel, said plate having an elongated open ended slot for receiving said lug to removably and ajustably secure said angle member to said runner.

8. The skid of claim 1 in which said arcuate support includes a downwardly curved sheet, a plurality of sleeves mounted in depending fashion from said curved sheet, a support post mounted in upstanding relation on at least some of said runner channels, and said arcuate sheet support sleeves each being positionable onto a respective one of said channel posts.

9. The skid of claim 8 in which said arcuate sheet is flexible to conform to the underside of a curved load mounted thereon.

10. The skid of claim 8 in which said arcuate support is vertically adjustable on said channel posts.

11. The skid of claim 1 in which at least one of said runners has a hitch at an end thereof.

12. The skid of claim Sincluding a plurality of channels secured to the vertical flange of each said elongated angle member, and an extension rod removably supportable in a vertical plane in each of said channels.

13. The skid of claim 12 in which said runner plate extends partially below each of said channels for supporting said extension rod therein and for permitting said rod to be forced out of said channel from the underside thereof.

14. The skid of claim 1 in which each said connecting means includes an elongated angle member having one flange inclined to the horizontal for supporting an end of said load and a second vertically disposed flange for protecting the end of said load, means releasably engaging the underside of said angle member to the upper side of said runners, said angle members being adjustably positionable in the longitudinal direction of said runners for accommodating loads of different length, said arcuate support including a downwardly curved sheet, a plurality of sleeves mounted in depending fashion from said curved sheet, and a support post mounted in upstanding relation on at least some of said runners for removably supporting the sleeves of said arcuate support. 

1. A skid for supporting an arcuate shaped load for transport comprising a plurality of longitudinal runners, means at opposite ends of said runners for releasably connecting said runners together in spaced parallel relation, means associated with each of said connecting means for engaging an end of a load supported on said skid, and an arcuate shaped support removably mounted at the center of said runners for supporting a curved underside of said load.
 2. The skid of claim 1 in which said connecting means releasably engages an upper side of said runners so that said skid is supported solely by said runners for sliding movement in the longitudinal direction of said runners.
 3. The skid of claim 2 in which said runners each comprise a bottom wooden rail and an upper metal channel removably secured to said rail.
 4. The skid of claim 1 in which said connecting means and said means for engaging each end of said load is a unitary member that is adjustably positionable longitudinally along said runners for accommodating loads of different length.
 5. The skid of claim 4 in which each of said connecting means includes an elongated angle member having one flange inclined to the horizontal for supporting an end of said load and a secOnd vertically disposed flange for protecting the end of said load.
 6. The skid of claim 5 in which a vertical plate is mounted at opposite ends of each of said angle members for retaining a load mounted on said skid against lateral sliding movement.
 7. The skid of claim 5 in which said angle member has a support angle secured to the underside of said inclined flange, said support angle having a horizontal leg, a lug mounted in depending fashion from said horizontal leg, a plate fixed to the upper side of said runner channel, said plate having an elongated open ended slot for receiving said lug to removably and ajustably secure said angle member to said runner.
 8. The skid of claim 1 in which said arcuate support includes a downwardly curved sheet, a plurality of sleeves mounted in depending fashion from said curved sheet, a support post mounted in upstanding relation on at least some of said runner channels, and said arcuate sheet support sleeves each being positionable onto a respective one of said channel posts.
 9. The skid of claim 8 in which said arcuate sheet is flexible to conform to the underside of a curved load mounted thereon.
 10. The skid of claim 8 in which said arcuate support is vertically adjustable on said channel posts.
 11. The skid of claim 1 in which at least one of said runners has a hitch at an end thereof.
 12. The skid of claim 5 including a plurality of channels secured to the vertical flange of each said elongated angle member, and an extension rod removably supportable in a vertical plane in each of said channels.
 13. The skid of claim 12 in which said runner plate extends partially below each of said channels for supporting said extension rod therein and for permitting said rod to be forced out of said channel from the underside thereof.
 14. The skid of claim 1 in which each said connecting means includes an elongated angle member having one flange inclined to the horizontal for supporting an end of said load and a second vertically disposed flange for protecting the end of said load, means releasably engaging the underside of said angle member to the upper side of said runners, said angle members being adjustably positionable in the longitudinal direction of said runners for accommodating loads of different length, said arcuate support including a downwardly curved sheet, a plurality of sleeves mounted in depending fashion from said curved sheet, and a support post mounted in upstanding relation on at least some of said runners for removably supporting the sleeves of said arcuate support. 